Mental illnesses were believed to be caused by natural and supernatural occurrences.
Babaylan and Manghihilot were involved in addressing these issues.
Spanish period
Mental illnesses were attributed to offended or displeased deities.
Incensed witches or mangkukulam were also blamed.
Devilmen or manggagaway were considered causes.
Folk healers or herbolarios provided care.
Hospicio de San Jose was established in 1782.
American Regime (1898 to 1946)
Mental disability began to be recognized as a medical illness.
Insane Department of San Lazaro Hospital was headed by Dr. Elias Domingo.
City Sanitarium was established in 1908.
Insular Psychopathic Hospital was established in 1928 (Philippine General Hospital) by Dr. Almond T. Gough and Dr. Samuel Tretze.
Treatments used:
Fever therapy (through bites of malaria-infected mosquitoes) for manic episodes.
Metrazol shock.
Insulin shock.
Hyoscine injections.
Japanese occupation
World War II led to mentally ill patients being treated at home.
Use of local medicinal herbs.
Filipino civilians, guerrilla fighters, and comfort women experienced PTSD.
American liberation
National Mental Hospital (1946), previously known as National Psychopathic Hospital.
Victoriano Luna General Hospital had a 100-bed neuropsychiatric unit.
University of the Philippines College of Medicine started teaching psychiatry as a subject (Marciano Limson).
University of Santo Tomas established a Section of Neurology and Psychiatry under the Department of Medicine in 1947 (Leopoldo Pardo).
Department of Psychiatry was established at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center (1956) - Jaime Zaguirre.
Mental Health: PH Statistics
Philippine WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health: at least 3.6 million Filipinos suffer from mental disorders.
2025: projected 11.3% to 11.6% of the population.
Philippine Statistical Authority: 1 in 5 Filipinos suffer from a mental or psychiatric disorder.
Factors Affecting Mental Health
Biological Factors
Genetic Factors
Schizophrenia - hereditary.
Neurotransmitters
Dopamine - associated with Schizophrenia.
Structural Brain Abnormalities
Brodmann Area 25 - associated with Major Depressive Disorder.
Social Factors
Stigma & Discrimination
Cultural Beliefs
Political Factors
Mental Health Policies
Corruption & Poor Governance
Human Rights Violations
Selected Mental Disorders
Schizophrenia
A chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality.
Positive symptoms:
Hallucinations
Delusions
Thought disorders (unusual or dysfunctional ways of thinking)
Movement disorders (agitated body movements)
Negative symptoms:
"Flat Affect"
Reduced feelings of pleasure in everyday life
Difficulty beginning and sustaining activities.
Reduced speaking
Depression
A common mental disorder that includes:
depressed mood
loss of interest or pleasure
feelings of guilt or low self-worth
disturbed sleep or appetite
low energy
poor concentration.
Suicide
Greatest cost of mental illness is measured in human lives
3rd leading cause of death among 15 to 24 years
Risk Factors:
Adverse life events
Family violence
Firearm in the home
Exposure to suicidal behavior of others
School and sleeping problems
Frequent incidents of self-destructive behavior
Loss of appetite or excessive eating
Withdrawal from friends and peers
Depression and hallucinations
A preoccupation with death
Putting affairs in order
An explicit announcement of thoughts of suicide
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension or tension, in reaction to stressful situations.
Anxiety disorders: When anxiety occurs without external justification and begins to affect people's daily functioning.
Phobias
Intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.
Examples:
Claustrophobia: Fear of tight spaces
Acrophobia: Fear of heights
Xenophobia: Fear of foreigners
Spectrophobia: Fear of own reflection or mirrors
Chorophobia: Fear of dancing or dance
Ablutophobia: Fear of washing or cleaning
Caligynophobia: Fear of beautiful women
Nomophobia: Fear of not having a phone
Kakorrhaphiaphobia: Fear of failure
Didaskaleinophobia: Fear of going to school
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Inattention: A person wanders off task, lacks persistence, has difficulty sustaining focus, and is disorganized; and these problems are not due to defiance or lack of comprehension.
Hyperactivity: A person seems to move about constantly, including in situations in which it is not appropriate; or excessively fidgets, taps, or talks. In adults, it may be extreme restlessness or wearing others out with constant activity.
PTSD
Levels of Prevention
Primary Level
Health education
Healthy lifestyle
Secondary Level
Ongoing assessment of children prenatally exposed to drugs and alcohol